Melbourne, Australia
By Maria Kalamatas | The Logistic News
June 10, 2025 – Section: Land / Cold Chain

After nearly eight decades in the refrigerated freight business, Don Watson Transport has announced it will shut down operations, bringing an end to one of Australia’s most enduring family-owned logistics companies. More than 300 employees are expected to be affected by the closure.

Established in 1948, the company built its name delivering temperature-sensitive goods across eastern Australia. Its trucks were a familiar sight on routes linking rural producers with supermarkets and food distributors in cities from Brisbane to Melbourne.

“This is not the future we hoped for,” said Mark Watson, managing director and grandson of the company’s founder. “But rising fuel costs, ongoing driver shortages, and increased financial pressure have forced us to make this very difficult decision.”

Watson emphasized that the company’s legacy was built on reliability and service, but the economic environment for mid-sized carriers has become too unforgiving.

Local supply chains, particularly those handling fresh food, are expected to feel the impact. In many regional areas, Don Watson Transport played a critical role in connecting farms and processing facilities with the national retail network.

The company has begun winding down its operations. Staff have been informed, and assistance is being offered to support their transition. It is likely that parts of the fleet and other physical assets will be sold or transferred to other logistics firms.

“It wasn’t just a trucking company,” said Erin Wallace, a logistics researcher based in Sydney. “For many in the industry, Don Watson was a benchmark of consistency. Its closure speaks volumes about the challenges facing independent freight operators today.”

As the logistics landscape continues to consolidate, and smaller firms are squeezed between compliance demands and cost pressures, the closure of a legacy operator like Don Watson Transport is a sobering moment for the Australian cold chain sector.

Maria Kalamatas
Senior Correspondent – Cold Chain & Regional Logistics
The Logistic News

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